David Cameron faces a battle with Cabinet colleagues over the future of pensioner benefits as the Conservatives start to draw up their manifesto for the 2015 general election.

The Prime Minister promised a Tory government would protect the basic state pension from cuts until at least 2020 by retaining the "triple lock" guarantee.

But his failure to rule out a squeeze on other pensioner benefits raised speculation perks such as winter fuel payments, free bus passes and TV licences could be stripped from better-off OAPs.

2014 year of hard truths: Osborne

George Osborne will paint 2014 as "the year of hard truths" as he warns voters only further austerity measures can pay for tax cuts and better job prospects.

In a speech setting out his priorities for the year, the Chancellor will warn that, despite a much-improved economic outlook than a year ago, there was "still a long way to go".

But Labour wanted to take Britain back to "borrowing and spending and living beyond our means - and let the next generation pay the bill", he will suggest.

More floods as storms whip up waves

Strong winds and large waves are expected to cause further coastal flooding today.

The Environment Agency issued one severe flood warning in Dorset - meaning "there is significant risk to life" - and 87 flood warnings where flooding is "expected" across almost every region in England and Wales.

The Met Office issued a "be aware" yellow warning for wind as gusts of up to 70mph are expected on the west and south-west coast of Britain and the east coast of Northern Ireland today.

Shivering US in grip of big freeze

Icy, snow-covered roads and high winds have made travel treacherous from the Dakotas to Michigan and Missouri as much of the US prepared for dangerously cold temperatures that could break records.

A whirlpool of frigid, dense air known as a "polar vortex" was expected to suppress temperatures in more than half of the continental US beginning today and tomorrow, with wind chill warnings stretching from Montana to Alabama.

The forecast is extreme: minus 25F( minus 31C) in Fargo, North Dakota, minus 31F (minus 35C) in International Falls, Minnesota, and minus 15F (minus 26C) in Indianapolis and Chicago.

Courts ‘inoperable after walk-out’

Criminal courts across England and Wales will be "effectively inoperable" this morning, the man leading a walk-out by barristers over legal aid cuts predicted.

Criminal Bar Association chair Nigel Lithman said the "strike" had the backing of almost every chamber and said he expected "solid support" for the unprecedented action.